A choice of emblemes, and other devises For the moste part gathered out of sundrie writers, Englished and Moralized. And divers newly devised, by Geffrey Whitney. A worke adorned with varietie of matter, both pleasant and profitable: Wherein those that please, maye finde to fit their fancies: Bicause herein, by the office of the eie, and the eare, the minde maye reape dooble delighte throughe holsome preceptes, shadowed with pleasant deuises: both fit for the vertuous, to their incoraging: and for the wicked, for their admonishing and amendment |
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Festina lentè
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 | A choice of emblemes, and other devises |  |
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Festina lentè
Ad Amplissimos viros Dn. Franciscvm Windham,
& Dn. Edwardvm Flowerdewe
Iudices integerrimos.
This figure, lo, Avgvstvs did deuise,
A mirror good, for Iudges iuste to see,
And alwayes fitte, to bee before their eies,
When sentence they, of life, and deathe decree:
Then muste they haste, but verie slowe awaie,
Like butterflie, whome creepinge crabbe dothe staie.
A mirror good, for Iudges iuste to see,
And alwayes fitte, to bee before their eies,
When sentence they, of life, and deathe decree:
Then muste they haste, but verie slowe awaie,
Like butterflie, whome creepinge crabbe dothe staie.
The Prince, or Iudge, maie not with lighte reporte,
In doubtfull thinges, giue iudgement touching life:
But trie, and learne the truthe in euerie sorte,
And mercie ioyne, with iustice bloodie knife:
This pleased well Avgvstvs noble grace,
And Iudges all, within this tracke shoulde trace.
Consulere patriæ, parcere afflictis, fera
In doubtfull thinges, giue iudgement touching life:
But trie, and learne the truthe in euerie sorte,
And mercie ioyne, with iustice bloodie knife:
This pleased well Avgvstvs noble grace,
And Iudges all, within this tracke shoulde trace.
Cæde abstinere, tempus atque iræ dare,
Orbi quietem, seculo pacem suo,
Hæc summa virtus, petitur hac cœlum via.
Senec. oct. act. 2.
| A choice of emblemes, and other devises | |